COLORFUL MARIGNY DISTRICT OF NEW ORLEANS

One of my favorite places to visit this year was the Marigny District of New Orleans. Its a colorful, heavily gay/lesbian community with great art, friendly people and wonderful food. We spent part of Mardi Gras there, touted as the best part of Mardi Gras by some locals we talked to. Here are some interesting pictures of the area. Where else would you see a bunny eared woman riding her bike around town?



 If you have old shovels and pitch forks, they make great wall sized outdoor art.

 This guy was in a hurry and wouldn't turn around for me.  His back was to the sun.

 Grafitti here is like a sport. The windows of this building are painted over, but its open for business. We never did figure out WHAT business but we are guessing children were not allowed.

 Quite a few restaurants have musicians. This guy was quite entertaining and funny, too.

 Even the birds seemed unthreatened and friendly.
 

 Phone booths are fair game now that they are unused.

The local bulletin board had literally thousands of staples stuck in the wood. 

 The owner of this shop occasionally sits out front and chats with passersby. I loved the chair, of course.

A dog lovers door.

An inviting door knocker turned art. I'd love to return to The Marigny.

MARDI GRAS RETROSPECTIVE

This is my second visit to New Orleans, but my first Mardi Gras. What a difference a date makes! In 2007 the city's struggles in the aftermath of Katrina were still raw and sore. What joy to be here during the Saints big win and the crowning glory of a great Mardi Gras.

Unforgettable memories forged, to take on the road with us. But, we aren't ready to leave yet. Will the City seem drab after "the ball" is over? Will it somehow lose its luster?

Sifting through my pictures, I found gorgeous wrought iron work all over town. Beautiful buildings from the 1800's preserved for posterity.

I can think of only one other city where music is like food, Vienna. But New Orleans has a unique sound and rhythm, the berceau of hundreds of great blues musicians. Not everyone can be a great musician. It tickled me to see guys on the street drumming on five gallon plastic buckets.

And the beads. I had such fun hanging them in the windows of the motor home. I figure they will lose their luster like Christmas trimmings do after Christmas and I'll take them down eventually.

And then, there is the food for which New Orleans is famous. What bounty, the Mississippi River and the ocean at your feet. Fresh fish on every corner. Alligator sausage. Muffaleto Sandwiches, gumbo, crawfish ettoufe, jambalaya. We hope to eat our way across the city.

The home cooked variety was pretty good too!

No, New Orleans is a World Class City, and she will never lose her luster, but shine on for succeeding generations. I only hope I get to return to one of my favorite cities.